What To Expect This Winter
It's almost that time again; the 2026-27 men's college basketball season is right around the corner. Indeed, it won’t be long before games in the Big East officially tip off, with teams such as UConn, Villanova, and St. John's all jockeying for the conference crown.
The initial matchups have already been set; they promise to be full of exciting moments, and electrifying action.
Last Season, In Review
The 2025-26 season in the Big East featured fierce rivalries between several of the nation’s most storied basketball programs. Let’s take a quick look back at some of the storylines that defined the year.
- The St. John's Red Storm had an outstanding year, winning the conference title and making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
- Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies were once again the "beasts of the East", as they rolled over opponents en route to a National Championship Game appearance.
- Villanovaalso played well, attaining a 24-9 overall record before falling in the first round of the "Big Dance".
- The bubble burst for the Seton Hall Pirates, who just barely missed out on a tournament appearance.
Other teams like Creighton and DePaul also made meaningful progress. Despite coming up a bit short of NCAA Tournament bids, there is a lot that these squads can hang their hats on in preparation for another season.
The Top Contenders
Enough about the past; let’s look to the future, and check out some teams that could make deep conference runs this season.
UConn
What They Did Well Last Season:
- Distributed the basketball effectively, with an average of 18.1 assists per game (#21 nationally).
- Got solid minutes and scoring from their starting roster.
- Hit a majority of their free throws.
What They Didn’t Do Well:
- Struggled to make three-point baskets.
- Turned the ball over a little too often (11.6 times a game, on average).
This Year’s Key Players
- G Braylon Mullins, Second-Year Freshman
- G Malachi Smith, Senior
- G Silas Demary Jr., Junior
- C Na'jai Hines, Sophomore (transfer from Seton Hall)
Key Points For The Huskies:
- The team must find someone to step up for senior Solo Ball, who is out for the season with an injury.
- Hines is a solid defender, but it might take some time for him to get adjusted to the UConn playbook.
St. John’s
What They Did Well:
- Scored points at an impressive rate, to the tune of 81.6 points per game on average.
- Were adept at crashing the boards; their average of 38.4 rebounds per game ranked 60th among all Division I teams.
- Managed to get solid contributions from bench players when it mattered.
What They Didn’t Do Well:
- Like the Huskies, the Red Storm weren’t very accurate with their three-point shots.
- The team’s offense could’ve distributed the ball somewhat more effectively.
Key Players
- G Ian Jackson, Sophomore
- C Ruben Prey, Sophomore
- G Avery Brown, Fifth Year Senior (transfer from Columbia University)
- G Kyle Cuffe Jr., Redshirt Senior (transfer from Mercer)
Key Points For The Red Storm:
- Eligibility issues exist for several players, among them Quinn Ellis, Keyshawn Hall, and Reed Bailey. St. John's must get a definitive answer from the NCAA as to whether or not these players will be available.
- As to eligibility, 3 out of the team’s 5 projected starters await a decision from the NCAA on their status. If eligibility is denied, someone will have to step up to take the places of these players.
Other Teams To Watch
Villanova
What They Did Well:
- Put together long scoring runs in key games.
- Got major minutes and contributions from their starting five.
- The Wildcats’ ball distribution wasn’t great, but it wasn’t that bad either.
What They Didn’t Do Well:
- Defense was quite sloppy at times; there wasn’t much of a difference between Points Scored (77.1 per game, on average) and Points Allowed (71.2 per game).
- Rebounding was an issue; average of 34.2 boards per game was only 301st nationally.
- Making a few more free throws could’ve helped the team down the stretch.
Key Players
- C Luigi Suigo, Freshman (international signee)
- F Devin Royal, Senior (transfer from Ohio State)
- G Tyler Perkins, Junior
- F Kwame Evans Jr., Senior (transfer from Oregon)
Key Points For The ‘Cats:
- A lack of big game experience at the point guard position could prove costly.
- Can the numerous transfers on the roster step up, and perform well in marquee games?
Marquette
What They Did Well:
- Got solid minutes from their starting roster.
- Scored points in bunches, which made things interesting offensively.
What They Didn’t Do Well:
- Gave up quite a few buckets on the defensive side of the ball.
- Failed to win the big games, finishing with an overall record of 12-20.
- The inability of the Golden Eagles to pull down rebounds was a major issue.
- Had trouble keeping the ball in their hands, making an average of 11.4 turnovers per contest.
Key Players
- G Nigel James Jr., Second-Year Freshman
- F Royce Parham, Sophomore
- G Adrien Stevens, Second-Year Freshman
- G Nolan Minessale, Junior (transfer from St. Thomas-MN)
Key Points For The Golden Eagles:
- Head Coach Shaka Smart and company must develop a tougher defense, and find players that are ready to step up.
- Can Minessale hang with the “big boys” in the Big East?
- If they play their cards right, the Eagles could be looking at a NCAA Tournament appearance come March.
End Of My Big East Men’s Basketball Rant
As the 2026-27 college basketball season begins, it is clear that conference play in the Big East will be a showcase for some of the year's best games, as well as the most compelling storylines in the sport. Fans should expect big-time performances by emerging stars, culminating in high-stakes runs to Madison Square Garden in March.
Buckle your seat belts; this is going to be good!
— Matt Boland for StadiumRant.com
The post 2026-27 Men's College Basketball Conference Outlook: Big East Conference appeared first on Stadium Rant.
